Teen pregnancy seems to be a pretty big deal in our society. How much effect does the media have on this situation? Why do some girls become pregnant? Why is it a big deal? Well when we can all go to a volleyball game, walk down the street, or turn on the television and see a pregnant teenager it is a big deal.
Girls get pregnant for various reasons. Some girls may be desperate to keep their boyfriends from leaving them. Others are looking for someone who will always love them and not leave. (It's true.Watch the Maury show!) Some girls may want attention of some sort, but many teen pregnancies are simply “mistakes.” We should all remember it does take two to tango, so boys are to blame as well. It is not hard to wear protection. Condoms are probably the best way, other than the fool proof method of abstinence, to prevent them from becoming fathers. It takes a few seconds to prevent pregnancy, but it takes 18 years to pay the price for your “mistakes.”
What does media have to do with teen pregnancy rates, which are surprisingly at their lowest point in years? Well, Teen Mom, 16 and Pregnant, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and The Pregnancy Pact are all over the television. Movies like Juno do well at the box-office. The media thinks they are trying to show the hardships of teen pregnancy, but they are exploiting these young mothers and could POSSIBLY be encouraging some girls to become pregnant. I’m sure you have heard people say “I wanna be on 16 and Pregnant, Bentley is soooo cute!” Yes most girls probably are not serious, but there is a second season of 16 and Pregnant, so some girls and they are not the only ones, did not learn their lesson from that show.
Some people may be wondering why teen pregnancy matters to them, but it does affect you. Billions of dollars of government money is used to help pay for these young mothers and their children to live daily. Many of these teen moms fall into the poverty bracket, and the government shovels out millions of dollars in prevention education. Also if the girl decides to get an abortion at a free clinic, someone has to pay for it somewhere along the line. (HintHint: your parent’s tax money pays for these government programs.)
So every year about 750,000 teen girls will get pregnant. This rate is lower compared to the past, but it may be rising in the future. Teen pregnancy may not seem like a big deal, but it really is. Eventually WE will pay taxes to cover the costs of these pregnancy programs. Eventually WE will have children, hopefully when we aren’t children ourselves, to educate about sex and preventing pregnancy. Teens should be taught at home about means of prevention. I just want to say I’m not bashing on girls who get pregnant, but I think it’s wrong for our society to not really have a problem with it.
All statistics found:
http://www.pregnantteenhelp.org/articles1.html
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The sad thing is that girls are getting pregnant for selfish reasons if they do it on purpose and the baby is the one who ends up suffering.
ReplyDeleteI think that too many girls are becoming pregnant in todays world.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Ali.
ReplyDeletethis kind of relates to my post... not to rub it in or anything, but im just pointing out, this problem started with the Sexual Revolution and removing sex from marriage. i know i just ticked a bunch of people off but its true.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many preventative method now days it is easy to stay protected and not get pregnant. I agree with Rand in girls getting pregnant for selfish reasons.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that more teen are becoming pregnant, and with 16 and pregnant on teens may see that they can be on TV for being pregnant. Like Hejinian said there are ways to prevent this. Good Post.
ReplyDeleteTeen pregnancy is a very serious issue in today's society. While having a baby as a teen does not immediately dennote you as being a "bad person", it does mean that you should have more responsibility. Personally, I think that shows like "16 and Pregnant" should be taken off of the air. All it is doing is glamourizing something that really shouldn't get that.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree and teen pregnancy is growing to much.
ReplyDeleteBecoming pregnant is not the worst thing that can happen to a person. The best way to prevent unwanted pregnancy is to not become sexually involved. It is a major problem in society today, but it can easily be prevented.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that there are many teens who are pregnant. Even though we will have a baby eventually, teen pregnancy is not appropriate. Teens are not ready to be a mom for their baby.
ReplyDeleteGood post! Getting pregnant isn't the worst thing in the world, but it isn't something you want when you're young. The media does play a huge part in this as well. Teens watch those TV shows and think that taking care of a baby at 16 look really easy, but in reality it's not. There are way too many teen mothers these days.
ReplyDeleteGood post. I think teen pregnancy is social problem. Teen just having sex for fun and they are not even reponsible for what they did. I've read some article about abortion. A lot of teen did abortion. that's murder...
ReplyDeleteGood post! I think teens need to start being more responsible because it would be really hard to take care of a child as a teenager.
ReplyDeleteI think 16 and Pregnant is okay, especially when they have Dr. Drew come on the show and talk about preventing teen pregnancy, but yes, this is a serious and ridiculous issuse in our society.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with teen pregnancy. They don't know there response. This is the social problem in the world nowadays. Good post.
ReplyDeleteEWWWW having to watch that teen mom at the volleyball game breast feed her baby was What The........! agreed on your blog post!
ReplyDeleteI agree with this post 100%. Society needs to stop encouraging teen pregnancy and perhaps the statistics will decrease!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. Teens need to take on resonsibility and this problem stop.
ReplyDeleteTeen preganancy is way too popular in todays society. Good post. I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteTeen pregnancy is ruining some children's lives. I do not like seeing it. Great post.
ReplyDeleteI seriously love the quote of "it takes seconds to avoid pregnancy and 18 years to pay for it." Pretty good stuff.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest problem here is short-sightedness. American culture has, since at least the 1950's, tended to emphasize gratification now in preference to careful preparation for the future.
ReplyDeleteIn connection with Herbert's post, I wonder if Teen Pregnancy rates would decrease if a book as popular as Twilight carried a strong anti-teen-pregnancy message in it...
Good post btw.